Cabinet Sub-Committee report into PCoI report on Easter attacks to President

COLOMBO (News 1st): The report of the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to study the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe the 2019 April 21 Attacks, is scheduled to be handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the 15th of March. The committee convened for the third day on Wednesday (Mar. 03), Attorney-at-Law Harigupta Rohanadheera, the Secretary of the committee told News 1st on Thursday (Mar. 04). Wide-ranging discussions were held on how to implement the recommendations of the final report of the Presidential Commission, Attorney-at-Law Harigupta Rohanadheera further added. Several senior police officers also attended the committee meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs under the patronage of Minister Chamal Rajapaksa who heads the Cabinet Sub-Committee. The other members of the committee appointed by the President are Ministers Johnston Fernando, Udaya Gammanpila, Ramesh Pathirana, Prasanna Ranatunga and Rohitha Abeygunawardena. "The DIG in-charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Director of the CID and the Director in-charge of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) were called to discuss how the recommendations of the Presidential Commission can be practically implemented," Minister Udaya Gammanpila told reporters following the meeting on Wednesday (Mar. 03). He further noted that regardless of the PCoI report's content, based on police investigations, 731 suspects have so far been arrested. According to Minister Gammanpila, of the arrested, 291 terrorist suspects are detained by the government at present, based on detention orders and in remand custody for charges to be filed in court. "Police were awaiting the report of the Presidential Commission, in order to institute legal action against the suspects," Minister Gammanpila pointed out. Meanwhile, Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena strongly opposed the stance of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) with regard to the Presidential Commission report. "The incident took place at the time when Chairman of the SLFP - Former President Maithripala Sirisena was the Head of the State, who also appointed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry to probe the 2019 April 21 Attacks; therefore, on what grounds can the SLFP's rejection of the PCoI report can be justified?", Minister Abeygunawardena questioned.